Metal panel



Dec. 14, 1937. QC TREES 2,101,965

METAL PANEL Filed July 16, 1937 INVENTOR flgdefifra:

a M 47 i? m ATTO R N EYS Patented Dec. 14, 1937 PATENT OFFICE METALPANEL Clyde 0. Trees, White Plains, N. Y., assignor to Medallic ArtCompany, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 16,1937, Serial No. 153,923

10 Claims.

This present invention relates to ornamental display panels and moreparticularly to panels for receiving a plurality of interchangeableplates carrying designations or symbols, such as, for example, the namesof individuals who are to be honored or recognized for theirachievements.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an ornamental panelharmonizing with its surroundings, which permits ready display andinterchange or rearrangement of the plates hearing the designations orsymbols. c

One form of the invention may consist of a frame formed of any desiredtype of material adapted to be disposed in a vertical position andincluding a top element and channeled side rails. The side rails opendownwardly so that a tray containing a plurality of interchangeableplates may be slid upwardly into the channels. A lock bar, preferablyalso channeled, is detachably connected to the panel for retaining thetray in the channel and completing the frame. The lock bar and frame maybe provided with a headed pin and keyhole slot connection allowing readyadjustment and detachment of the lock bar.

Additionally, a spring may be provided for preventing the tray fromsliding from the frame when the lock bar is removed. This spring mayalso engage the lock bar to frictionally resist its movement, therebyretaining it firmly in its connected position.

The designations or symbols may be applied to the interchangeable platesin any desired Way, such as by stamping, painting or printing, or theymay be engravings or in relief, as desired. The

frame may likewise be provided with any desired type of ornamentationand formed of any desired types or combination of materials.

Panels of the type embodying the invention may be used as display boardsfor the names of the winners of competitions, or to honor individualsfor their achievements. The panels may be independent units, or may forma part of trophies, such as those remaining in use from year to year, sothat the names of the individuals Winning the competitions may be addedfrom year to year.

Other advantages and uses will become appar ent from the description ofa typical form of the invention, such as that disclosed in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a typical form of paneled member embodyingthe invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure l;

Figure 4 is a broken perspective view of the lower end of the panel;

Figure ,5 is a broken perspective view of the lower end of the tray, and0 Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lock bar;

Figure '7 is a broken perspective view of a modifled form of tray;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a modified form of designation plate.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the panel consists of a backplate Ill, generally of rectangular-shape, carrying at its longitudinalside edges a pair of similar side rails l2 and I4, which are ofgenerally L-shaped cross-section providing flanges l6 and I8, overlyingand spaced from the back plate II] to provide channels receiving a tray20. The side rails l2 and I4 may be formed separately and attached tothe back plate ill in any desired manner, such as by riveting, orthrough the use of screws, or the back plate l0 and the side rails l2and i4 may be formed integrally, as by casting or machining. Likewise,if desired, the back plate l0, instead of being a continuous plate,as'illustrated, may be a skeleton member, having apertures therein ofany desired configuration.

The panel also includes a top rail 22, which may be attached to oradjacent the back plate It! in any desired manner and may carry, at itsupper end and across its face, an ornamental insignia or plaque 24. Thetop rail 22 and ornamental plaque 24 may, if desired, be formedseparately from the side rails 12 and M or integrally therewith andserve in either case to close the upper ends of the channels formed bythe side rails.

The tray 20 may consist of a substantially flat plate of a width andlength, such as to be re- ,1 ceived snugly within the side rails l2 andI4, and is provided with upwardly projecting flanges 26 and 28 on itslongitudinal edges. The flanges 26 and 28 may, if desired, overhang thetray 2!! to form channels in which are inserted a series 45 of plates 30bearing designations or symbols, such as for example the names ofindividuals. The tray 20 may also be provided with an upstanding flange32 at one of its ends for retaining the designation plates 30 in thetray as the latter is inserted between the side rails. The tray 20containing the designation plates 39 may be inserted between the siderails I2 and M by upward movement and is retained therein by means of alock bar 34 provided with any suitable type of connection for retainingit in abutment with the ends of rails 12 and i4 and the tray 20. Asillustrated, the lock bar 34 may be provided with two spaced headed pins36 which are received in keyhole slots 38 in the back plate It! or aplate associated therewith. The lock bar 34 may be provided with aflange 49 on its upper edge which overlies the lower end of the siderails I2 and I4 and the lower end of the tray 20. The top and side railsand lock bar form a frame for the designation plates and thus presentthem to view in a pleasing manner.

An additional locking means for retaining the tray in the side rails 62and I4 may be provided, consisting of a leaf spring 42, fixed to theback plate ii and adapted to bear against the under surface of the lockbar 34, thereby creating a frictional resistance to longitudinalmovement of the lock bar. The spring 42 may have the addi tionalfunction of retaining the tray in the frame when the lock bar is removedsince the spring normally will move outwardly after removal of the lockbar to engage or intercept the tray in its downward movement. Bydepressing the spring 42 the tray 20 may he slid over it for removal.

In Figure '7 is disclosed a modified form of tray 44 consisting of aplate 46 having grooves formed in its upper surface to provide flanges48 and 5!! at its edges. A designation plate 52 suitable for use withthe tray 44 is disclosed in Figure 8. The designation plate 52 hasdownwardly bent lateral edges which form flanges 54 and 56 adapted tofit between the flanges 48 and 50 on the tray 44.

It will be understood that the panels embodying the invention may bevaried suitably as by forming the frame from a single or a plurality ofparts, without departing from the invention. Likewise, the tray may bevaried in shape and size, in accordance with the type of designationplate which it is adapted to receive and the designation plates maythemselves be varied in their ornamental and structural characteristics,without departing from the invention.

The form of the invention described should, therefore, be considered asillustrative only and not as limiting the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a display panel, the combination of a back plate, spaced parallelside rails on said back plate having inwardly opening channels therein,a top rail abutting the side rails and closing one end of the channels,a tray slidably mounted in said channels, replaceable name platesslidably mounted on said tray and a lock bar detachably connected to theback plate by a pin and keyhole slot connection and engageable with thelower end of the side rails and the tray to retain the tray in the siderails.

2. In a display panel, the combination of a frame having a top andparallel side rails, inwardly projecting flanges on said side railsdefining channels, the inner edges of the flanges being free throughouttheir entire length, a tray slidably mounted in said channels flanges ontwo sides of the tray, a flange on an end of the tray, a plurality ofname plates slidably retained in said tray by said flanges and adetachable lock bar engageable with the lower ends of the side rails andsaid tray to retain the tray in said channels.

3. The display panel set forth in claim 2, comprising a resilientelement engaging said lock bar to resist detachment of the bar andmovable into position to retain the tray in the channels.

4. The display panel set forth in claim 2 comprising a pin and keyholeslot for retaining the lock bar in engagement with the side rails.

5. In a display panel, the combination of a frame having an open end andinwardly opening channeled side rails adjacent the open end, a trayhaving side flanges slidable through the open side of the frame into theside rails, a plate bearing a symbol slidably retained in the tray bythe flanges and a lock bar closing the open end having a flangeoverlying and retaining the tray in the frame.

6. In a display device, the combination of a quadrangular frame havingan open side, a tray having flanged opposite edges slidably received insaid frame, a plurality of plates bearing symbols slidably retained insaid tray by the flanged edges, a lock bar for closing the open side ofthe frame and engageable means on the frame and lock bar to detachablyconnect the lock bar to the frame, said engageable means comprising apin and keyhole slot connection.

'7. In a display panel, the combination of a frame having a top rail andparallel side rails, flanges on said side rails forming channels, a trayslidably mounted in said channels, a plurality of designation plates insaid tray, flanges on said tray for positioning and retaining saidplates, a detachable lock bar engageable with the tray and the siderails for retaining the tray in the channels and a flange on said lockbar overlying the tray and engaging the side rails.

8. In a display device, the combination of a quadrangular frame havingan open side, a tray having flanged opposite edges slidably received insaid frame, a plurality of plates bearing symbols slidably retained insaid tray by the flanged edges, a lock bar for closing the open side ofthe frame and engageable means on the frame and lock bar to detachablyconnect the lock bar to the frame comprising a pin and keyhole slotconnection and a spring for retaining the pin in the keyhole slot.

9. In a display device, the combination of a quadrangular frame havingan open side, a tray having flanged opposite edges slidably received insaid frame, a plurality of plates bearing symbols slidably retained insaid tray by the flanged edges, a lock bar for closing the open side ofthe frame, engageable means on the frame and lock bar to detachablyconnect the lock bar to the frame, and a flange on the lock baroverlying the tray.

10, In a display panel, the combination of a back plate, a pair ofseparate, spaced and substantially L-shaped side rails on the said backplate forming with the back plate opposed channels, a top rail on saidback plate abutting the adjacent ends of the side rails, said top railand side rails forming three sides, only, of a quadrangular frame, thefourth side being open, a tray having flanged opposite edges slidablyreceived in the channels of the frame and removable through the openside, a plurality of plates bearing symbols slidably retained in saidtray by the flanged edges, and a separate lock bar for closing the openside of and completing the quadrangular frame and retaining the tray inthe frame.

CLYDE 0. TREES,

